Costa Rica Tourism had lower activity this Green Season Tourism than expected, particularly the hotel, but the high that starts in December, and indicators reflect a high number of Costa Rica vacations being booked.
Depending on the area tourism was up or down. In La Fortuna, San Carlos, Northern Costa Rica, the hotels only had 20% occupancy, but in the Southern Costa Rica, the season ended with an occupation that exceeded 50%.
Costa Rica beaches in the North saw a much lower number of surfers this season, but businesses that cater to surfers say this high season is looking very strong.
The South regions because improved access as well as great deal of publicity, especially in Osa Peninsula area, with the coastal highway and airport in Palmar Sur making Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez much more accessible.
In Guanacaste, entrepreneurs say the impact of the earthquake on September 5 did not have that much of an effect on the sector.
The Caribbean did not have a good off-season. The occupancy dropped to 20% in the off-season this year in most cases.
The industry is in transition between the two seasons and October, the lowest month, is use it to prepare for the coming high season.
Costa Rica hotel reservations for this high season and have done well, also Costa Rica vacation packages have done very well.
The industry is optimistic in its goal of keeping this year and 2013 a growth of 5% per annum, which has been the average in recent years.
Although Costa Rica beaches have not seen a lot of foreign surfers this green season in general, surfing in Central America has seen an uptick in recent years and that trend is expected to continue, especially for Costa Rica beaches.
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose Costa Rica
